This photo, taken on April 2, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.’s 5G smartphone, the Galaxy S20, displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite its overwhelming speed and data processing advantages, South Korea’s 5G service is facing growing consumer complaints primarily for poor call quality resulting from a shortage of 5G base stations, a consumer watchdog said Wednesday.
The number of applications for 5G service-related damage redress filed by consumers during the period from April 2019 to March 2020 totaled 167, according to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA).
By type of damage, poor call quality and data connections ranked at the top with 54 cases or 32.3 percent, followed by the non-execution of contracts, among others, the non-payment of subsidies and the non-implementation of handset discounts with 51 cases or 30.5 percent of the total.
The online survey the KCA conducted in May with the participation of 800 5G service subscribers also showed similar patterns in consumer complaints about the 5G service.
The largest share of the respondents, 52.9 percent, said they were dissatisfied with the speed of 5G services, followed by 49.6 percent who were unhappy with the limited scope of coverage, 48.5 percent with the high price tag of 5G wireless plans, and 41.6 percent with the unintentional switch to LTE from 5G within a 5G service area.
The KCA noted that 5G service providers were not providing adequate information or explaining about the service and coverage when selling their 5G plans.
Roughly one quarter of the respondents said they weren’t explained about the limitations of 5G coverage when subscribing to a 5G service plan.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
